Day 02 - A Favorite Movie

"Life isn't like in the movies. Life... is much harder." ~ Said by Alfredo, in Cinema Paradiso

As a self-proclaimed cinephile, movies have always been "The Great Escape" for me. (See what I did there?) Again, singling out a favorite is difficult because movies, as with music, are mood-dependent in my world. And I'm fickle. And I keep adding new ones with every year that passes because, luckily, good ones still keep being made, albeit fewer and farther between. I'm still on a never-ending mission to see all the movies that made AFI's Top 100 list, which is proving to be difficult since it keeps evolving over time.

I've loved going to the movies since I was young. I especially loved going to movie theaters on base because before they showed the feature film they always played the national anthem. The GI's would promptly get to their feet and stand at attention and, of course, the civilians followed suit. I remember missing that little reminder of patriotism and love for our country when I started visiting "regular" movie theaters, those not on-base.

Even though I love retreating to our in-home theater, I sometimes miss watching the huge blockbusters at a local cinema. The palpable excitement of 100+ patrons looking forward to the movie hyped by months of movie trailers and critics' reviews sitting next to you is as addictive as the popcorn. I do still venture out occasionally, but unfortunately, more often than not I'm reminded immediately that common courtesy is not pro forma among the gen pop.

Some of the best things about watching movies at home are curling up in my pj's under a soft fleece blankie (yes, we each have one), eating whatever snacks I want without taking out a small loan first, and being able to cheer/yelp when startled/laugh/snort/weep or even doze as the latest rental plays out.

Those of you who've known me longer than five minutes will know that I love a gangster movie. I can't help it. I know they're dark. And violent. And filled with obscenities. Not unlike my own life. Ha! I kid! Actually, they are so far removed from my own life that I think that's why I'm drawn to them. To think how many movies were and are made about La Cosa Nostra and the like is pretty ridiculous, but it also proves that I'm not the only one intrigued by it. Chalk it up as yet another of my strange addictions.

Some of my favorites include:

• The Godfather - the epitome of the gangster genre
  
• The Shawshank Redemption - more people should watch it
  
• Rear Window - CLASSIC Hitchcock
  
• The Little Mermaid - Where DID I put my banded, bulbous snarfblatt?
  
• Steel Magnolias - Some of my oft-used quotes come from this movie.
  
• Broadcast News - "Okay, I'll meet you at the place near the thing where we went that time." I find myself saying similar stuff DAILY. It drives my friends and family crazy, I'm sure. Now I'm divulging where it started. **Quick digression: I've had several conversations over the years that closely resemble that line of dialogue from Broadcast News. One in particular was when I was with a friend and SHE said to me something along the lines of, "Remember that night when we watched that film and the guy went running through the thing?" I totally knew what she was talking about. That's what friends are for. I took it as an accomplishment that I someone I knew was finally communicating like me. My work here is done.
• The Birdcage - Agador Spartacus is ALWAYS a pick me up when I need a giggle.
  
• Tommy Boy - Stupid humor = guilty pleasure. "That. Was. AWESOME!"
• All About Eve - "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night."
• To Sir, With Love -"I believe one should fight for what one believes. Provided one is absolutely sure one is absolutely right."
• Memento and Inception - Christopher Nolan, your brilliance amazes me.
  

But if I had to choose ONE, that I had to watch over and over for the rest of my life, it would have to be...

Can I get back to you on that??